Thinker

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/25/world/earth-core-turning-scli-scn-intl Actually, yes. (Well, kind of).

I hate to break it to you this way but: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-29403392

This is the bottom line. As a professional sportsman or woman, your income depends on how many people want to watch. It may well be just as hard work to be a top (field) hockey player as a top footballer, but you don't get paid as much because of the lower gates and viewing figures. It may well be just as hard work to be a top badminton player as a top tennis player, but you don't get paid as much because of the lower gates and viewing figures. And it may well be just as hard work to be a top women's footballer as a top men's footballer, but you don't get paid as much because of the lower gates and viewing figures.

So much for that prediction!

For all the shock results, it's looking like normality will have reasserted itself in time for the QFs. The only deviation from what you'd have expected is probably going to be Croatia instead of Belgium/Germany.

Borna happy, Maeda sad. 👍

I started off thinking that way, but I've been working from home and have been gradually drawn into it. The first two matches today were belters.

Even in the first half Argentina's performance reminded me of one of ours. I don't see them turning this round...

I know it's not a very original choice, but I have a clear memory of declaring "That is the best goal I've ever seen!" when it happened.

That, or deid through some variety of substance abuse.

The failure here was the inability to prove what that wrong 'un had been up to.

Coping mechanism?

Rennes 3 -2 Lyon Sack him!

It's worth noting that the two teams we eliminated from the CL qualifiers are both sitting pretty in the Europa: unbeaten, will both very probably progress beyond the group stage, and have a set of results we'd all be content with. Would Gio be getting it in the neck if we were in USG's current position in the Europa League? Would USG have fared any better than us if they were in our CL group? There's a gulf in prize money between CL and EL, but there's also a converse gulf in enjoyment that makes it barely worth it.

Also, domestically, over the period since our last loss, our main rivals have gone from scudding everyone out of the park, to one loss and two narrow wins - the most recent relying on an OG and a last gasp winner. I think it's fair to say we're coping with the midweek CL games better than they are. I'm hopeful we can take the lead before the winter shut down.

Booooo! Hiss!

I suppose it's possible to be iconic in a bad way. Like, and icon that's emblematic of a misplaced sense of hope, or a premature sense of achievment.

When it's laid out like that, you can't really complain.

The week's European results turned out perfectly - the complete hero/zero flip from our disappointment in Belgium and DU "flying the flag for Scottish football". It's nice to think of Spence and his ilk being thoroughly sickened by that most brutal shafting. They actually believed they were going to get through! 😂 Having said that, in general, I wouldn't be upset if Scottish diddy teams started regularly making it to the Conference League Group stages. I wouldn't class that as a meaningful success in Europe - the diddy prize money would barely put a dent in the financial gap between us and them. Pluses for us: there's a possibility that they'd contribute to the coefficient, and their fight in the league would suffer as they'd be fatigued by midweek excursions to the arse end of Europe and horsings from the pot A club in their group.

Keep that JuJu coming!

I see USG just got royally humped 3-0 by Mechelen - who lost their first two games of the season. If they can do it we can do it.

Their league form hasn't been especially convincing either. Drew their opening game 1-1 then a 1-0 victory - neither against Belgian title contenders. They might be one season wonders. 🤞

I agree, but would have him instead of £22.5 million?

You can put your shirt on it. Or vice versa.